Four Baker Donelson attorneys have been recognized as Client Service All-Stars by BTI Consulting Group, the leading provider of strategic research to the legal community. The four attorneys recognized in the 2023 edition are Jennifer L. Anderson, Christy Tosh Crider, James E. Edwards Jr., and Sara M. Turner.
Ms. Turner was named by multiple clients, earning her the added distinction of being recognized as a BTI Super All-Star. Of the 293 attorneys included in the report, she is one of only four lawyers who were cited by more than one client. Ms. Turner was also recognized as a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2017.
This is Ms. Crider's second consecutive year to be named a Client Service All-Star, earning her BTI's designation as a Client Service All-Star MVP.
These attorneys were awarded the distinction of inclusion in the BTI Client Service All-Star list after being singled out by name for delivering superior client service during in-depth, independent interviews conducted by BTI with top legal decision-makers.
A shareholder operating out of Baker Donelson's Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas, offices, Ms. Anderson is a litigator and member of the Firm's Labor & Employment Group. Her practice primarily focuses on wage and hour compliance and litigation, and she has represented employers in more than 200 Fair Labor Standards Act cases, with more than 50 of those being class and/or collective actions. She has particular experience advising and defending energy clients but also represents publicly traded and private companies in industries such as banking, financial services, and health care. She regularly counsels clients on labor and employment law compliance, as well as the development and administration of policies and practices to minimize dispute and litigation. Ms. Anderson has experience defending clients before both state and federal administrative bodies, and she serves as lead counsel in the arbitration and litigation of labor and employment disputes at the trial and appellate levels.
In describing Ms. Anderson's service, clients said, "Jennifer stands out as the best at employment matters."
Chair of Baker Donelson's Health Care Litigation Group and the Women's Initiative, Ms. Crider founded the Firm's Long Term Care Team and served as its leader for more than a decade. She also serves on the Firm's board of directors and is an AAA-certified arbitrator. A shareholder in the Firm's Nashville office, she concentrates her practice in health care litigation, managing the litigation of numerous health care facilities around the country, as well as serving as outside general counsel. Ms. Crider provides counsel to health care companies on quality assurance, corporate compliance, general business advice and litigation avoidance challenging survey citations, and government investigations.
Ms. Crider's clients noted, "Christy knows the industry elements important to us, particularly around regulatory and employment, so she can diversify her recommendations. She's a great advocate for the industry."
Mr. Edwards is a shareholder with Baker Donelson and is based in the Firm's Baltimore office. His practice focuses on construction law and civil litigation, as well as serving as a neutral in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He has experience in design and construction contract preparation, and with public and private construction claims resolution. Mr. Edwards has represented owners and both contractors and subcontractors in claims involving defective design and construction, delay and impact, disputed changes, bid protests, contract termination, and contract interpretations. In his trial experience, he represents both individual and corporate fiduciaries and beneficiaries in fiduciary litigation arising from estate and trust administration, as well as business and individuals in corporate, personal, and employment-related litigation in federal and state courts in Maryland and in the mid-Atlantic region.
Corporate counsel feedback on Mr. Edwards included, "James knows our company inside and out, so I have complete trust in his advice and counsel."
Serving as chair of Baker Donelson's Hospitality Industry Service Team, Ms. Turner is a shareholder based in the Firm's Birmingham office. She has experience with a wide array of litigation claims, including in hospitality (franchise, timeshare, and human trafficking), in products liability (drug and medical device and class action), and in complex commercial litigation. In addition to her experience serving as outside general counsel, she also serves as national counsel coordinating nationwide defense strategies for her clients and represents clients before arbitrators, judges, and juries across the country. She is a member of the board of directors for DRI – Lawyers Representing Business and is former chair of DRI's Retail and Hospitality Committee. She is also a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).
Clients said about Ms. Turner, "Sara is thorough and doesn't overcomplicate matters," and "Her value is outstanding for how well she knows our business top to bottom."
The 2023 BTI Client Service All-Stars report is comprised of attorneys who were identified for their exceptional client service by more than 350 corporate counsel and legal decision-makers at organizations ranging in size from $700 million in revenue to the largest companies in the world. Top legal decision-makers single out each BTI Client Service All-Star attorney – by name and in an unprompted manner – as delivering the absolute best client service. No attorney or firm can self-nominate, self-refer, or pay to be included in this report.